In a stunning turn of events at the French Open, Argentine qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo defeated world number one Jannik Sinner in the third round on Friday. The match, played on Court Suzanne Lenglen, ended with a score of 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 in favor of Cerundolo, who is ranked 103rd in the world.
Cerundolo's Remarkable Rise
The 22-year-old Cerundolo, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, has now recorded the biggest win of his career. He displayed exceptional composure and shot-making ability, particularly on his forehand side, to neutralize Sinner's powerful baseline game. Cerundolo broke Sinner's serve five times and saved 12 of 16 break points he faced.
This victory marks the first time a qualifier has defeated a world number one at a Grand Slam since 2001, when Goran Ivanisevic beat Gustavo Kuerten at Wimbledon. Cerundolo's previous best Grand Slam performance was reaching the second round at the 2022 French Open.
Sinner's Struggles
Jannik Sinner, who had been in outstanding form this season with titles at the Australian Open and Miami, struggled with his consistency. The Italian committed 45 unforced errors and failed to convert key opportunities. He had a chance to level the match in the fourth set but was broken while serving at 4-5.
This is Sinner's earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open, and it ends his 16-match winning streak at majors. He had been the favorite to win the French Open after Novak Djokovic's withdrawal due to injury.
What's Next for Cerundolo
Cerundolo will face either 14th seed Tommy Paul or unseeded Christopher O'Connell in the fourth round. If he continues his current form, the Argentine could be a dark horse to make a deep run at Roland Garros.
The tennis world has been left in shock by this result, as Sinner was widely expected to dominate the tournament. Cerundolo's victory is a testament to the depth of talent in men's tennis and the unpredictability of Grand Slam tennis.
